Agreement signed with Korea on preparing Ctg transport master plan
Bangladesh and South Korea yesterday signed an agreement to launch a two-year project on preparing a transport master plan and a preliminary feasibility study for metro rail construction in Chattogram city.
South Korea, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica), in collaboration with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), the Road Transport and Highways Division, and the road transport and bridges ministry, signed the agreement.
The DTCA under the Road Transport and Highways Division will partner with Koica to implement the project.
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Next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Bangladesh. In anticipation of this milestone, Koica, which offers grant aid programmes for international development, collaborated with the Road Transport and Highways Division and the finance ministry's Economic Relations Division (ERD) to sign the grant agreement, said a press release from the organisation.
Koica Country Director for Bangladesh Doh Young-ah, Road Transport and Highways Division Secretary ABM Amin Ullah Nuri, and ERD Additional Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations in presence of ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan and South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun.
Over the next 24 months, the project involving $6 million (Tk60.01 crore) grant will develop a transportation master plan for the Chattogram Metropolitan Area, prepare a pre-feasibility study and preliminary concept design for MRT construction in the Chattogram metro area, and enhance the institutional capacity of the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority for establishing an efficient transportation system.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, South Korean Ambassador Lee Jang-keun said, "Korea has long viewed Bangladesh as a trusted partner and is willing to assist in a variety of development areas, including transport, governance, and others.
"Officials stated that Korea developed two master plans for Bangladesh in 2003 and 2018 on the Chattogram sewerage system and e-Government, respectively. Not only did Korea develop the master plan, but it is also attempting to implement it. Under this initiative, a third master plan will be developed that will improve the daily lives of Chattogram's common residents."
Koica Country Director for Bangladesh Young-Ah Doh said, "I really hope that through this comprehensive cooperation from the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh will be able to improve traffic safety and the environment by offering eco-friendly, convenient, and fast public transportation services in accordance with the master plan.
"In addition, the master plan will build a road management system that will minimise travel time and the number of road accidents, resulting in the much-needed improvement of the country's road conditions. Furthermore, the project will solve current challenges and make positive contributions to the mass transit sector in Bangladesh."
ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan praised the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Bangladesh which will assist to improve the traffic situation in Chattogram, the economic hub of Bangladesh.
Along with this new pledge, Koica is currently implementing over 10 development projects in the following priority areas with $15 million grants per annum: Education (skill development), Transportation, Public Health and ICT (innovation).
In the skill development area, Koica is working with the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training to promote demand-driven competency-based skill training, whereas in the public health area, the organisation is working together with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to establishing Eye Health Care Units and improving Maternal and Child Health.
In the ICT area, Koica is supporting the ICT Division for developing e-Government Master Plan. It is also supporting the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) and the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence for developing IT-based management and reengineering their business process.
